Her eyes widen and I fall into those black velvet depths.
“I’z like to be little,” she whispers.
“Great. Stay right here for me, okay? Can you do that?”
Eyes shining, she nods.
I head back in, grab the plate set out of the cabinet, and carry it out with my plate and utensils. When I set it in front of her, Cynnie claps her hands and bounces in her seat. “Buzzies!”
I grin. As soon as I saw the cup and plate set at the store, I knew it was right for her. On the plastic plate, there’s a cute girl with huge eyes sitting among red flowers while smiling, cartoon bees circle her. The plastic sippy cup is circled with the same flowers and a winding trail of smiling bees.
“These are yours if you want them. You can take them home with you.”
Her face falls. “Not to my house.”
I almost ask why not but decide on a different tact. “No problem. They can stay here, and you can use them whenever you come over. They’ll be your special things.”
That brings her smile straight back and she grasps the cup in both hands. “Oh, it’s empty.”
“It is for right now. What would you like to drink? I got oat milk if you’d like milk, but I also have juice.”
She tips her head to the side. “Cola?”
“No cola for little girls.”
She blows a raspberry at me, then hides her face behind the cup so just her eyes are peeping out over the lid. “I’z only drink cola.”
“Now, I know that’s not true. What if I make you a special drink with juice and some fresh raspberries, since you like blowing them?”
Her giggle rings out. “Sowwy.”
“Mmm, not sure I believe that, but would you like the special drink?”
“Yes, pease!” She holds her cup out to me.
“Okay. You’re going to stay right there for me, yes?”
“Right here.” She pats the bench cushion. “Or maybe there.” She points at the other bench.
“How about this rule, you can sit on either bench, and come back inside if you want to, but this is off limits?” I hold my arm like a bar in front of the steep stairs down to the next landing.
Her eyes widen again, and her pupils dilate. “Off limits?”
“Yes. That’s the rule for tonight.”
“I’z good with rules,” she says.
“I know you will be because you’re a good girl, aren’t you?”
Those words again. I can’t help saying them because I keep drowning in those dark eyes and all I can think is,be my good girl,over and over.
“I’z a good girl,” she promises.
“Okay. I’ll be right back.”
I escape before I go under completely and my body’s reaction to those dark eyes becomes obvious even through my jeans.
Figuring Cynnie deserves a treat, I pull down a shaker to mix up apple juice, raspberries, a few mint leaves from the readi-grow bucket of herbs stuck in my window, and some cracked ice. I strain the frothy pink mix into her sippy cup and carry it out with a beer and the serving dishes of chicken and green beans.
